The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the three peninsulas of Southern Europe (the other two being the Iberian Peninsula and Balkan Peninsula), spanning 1,000 km from the Po Valley in the north to the central Mediterranean Sea in the south. The peninsula is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west, the Ionian Sea on the south, and the Adriatic Sea on the east. The interior part of the Apennine Peninsula consists of the Apennine Mountains, from which it takes its name, the northern part is largely plains and the coasts are lined with cliffs.
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Definition
Timeline
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800 BCEBeginning of the Etruscan civilization in Italy.
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753 BCEThe legendary founding date of Rome.
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750 BCE - 510 BCEThe (semi-mythological) seven kings of Rome: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tulus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.
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c. 740 BCE - c. 433 BCEGreek poleis or city-states establish colonies in Magna Graecia.
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c. 600 BCEPaestum is founded by colonists from Sybaris.
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509 BCEFoundation of the Roman Republic.
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498 BCE - 493 BCERome defeats the Latins.
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c. 410 BCEPaestum is attacked and conquered by the Lucanians.
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400 BCECelts enter Italy and settle in the Po Valley.
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c. 398 BCE - c. 380 BCEPlato travels in Egypt, Cyrene, Italy, Syracuse and Sicily.
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396 BCERoman expansion begins with the capture of Veii from the Etruscans.
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391 BCESenones besiege Clusium, an Etruscan city.
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343 BCE - 341 BCEFirst Samnite War (Rome vs. Samnites).
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340 BCE - 338 BCELatin War, victory for Rome.
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326 BCE - 304 BCESecond Samnite War.
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300 BCEAgathocles of Syracuse campaigns in Italy and captures Bruttium.
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285 BCE - 282 BCERome defeats the Celts in Italy. Rome's dominance in central Italy is secured.
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280 BCE - 272 BCERoman war against Tarentum. Rome conquers Tarentum. Rome's dominance in lower Italy is secured.
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223 BCERomans successfully campaign against Celtic tribes of Cisalpine Gaul.
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c. 177 BCEThe Roman colony of Luna founded in northern Italy, as a millitary stronghold.
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89 BCEAll poleis or city-states in Magna Graecia come under Roman control.
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167 CEMarcomanni sack Aquileia.
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488 CE - 493 CETheodoric the Great of the Ostrogoths conquers Italy.
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535 CE - 554 CEThe Gothic War launched by Emperor Justinian I, aimed at reconquering Italy from the Goths.
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535 CEBelisarius' first campaign against the Ostrogoths in Italy.
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536 CE - 562 CEThe Byzantine Empire conquers Italy.
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568 CE - 582 CELombards invade northern Italy.